Marginal economic security – now Rapidly eroded retirement dollars – later Ailing health and ongoing doctor visits, because you lacked a purposeful life that reduces your pasture time1!!! And, when you FINALLY have the freest time, you’ll mainly see your friends at their funerals (seated or lying down).
There are only three endings to this story: If you are #3, diverge with me from the cube farm philosophy, and escape the malodorous stench of office-politic cow pies, big brother policy cattle prods, and straight-jackets constricting our creative and innovative minds. If you’re like me, your cube walls are closing in fast and you are having a Morgan Freeman – Shawshank Redemption moment where you hear yourself say, “Get busy livin’ or get busy dyin’!” Morgan chose life and so should you. Life away from the cube farm. Here’s some helpful tips and to avoid the slaughter house or a lack luster stay in the “Life-Interrupted-Pasture Zone”:
#1 Compelling
There’s only one way off the cube farm: Under a dark, sewage storm cloud of self-doubt, fear, naysayers, and deprogramming after years of telling yourself – get a job and hang on for dear life. To endure this constant barrage of escape-derailers, there must be a light so powerful that it eclipses the pain of change, circumstances, and anything that can make you turn back. You need a compelling vision that is WORTH enduring the dynamic changes your body, mind, and priorities must undergo to break out and stay out of the cube farm. For some people, it’s creating a new technology, feeding the hungry, starting an enterprise, or improving someone’s life! This vision2 has to grab you by the short hairs, look you in the eye, and say, “Ride or Die,” and you agree wholeheartedly!
#2 Bridging
As you plan your exit, you must BUILD a bridge that takes you to your happy place. When you think about most bridges, you have a roadway, support underneath, and a good reason to get to the other side, right? In this scenario, your compelling vision is your good reason. What you have to figure out are the road way and support pillars.
Road way
This is all about what you have or can easily get, if you are resourceful. Based on your existing skills, knowledge, net worth, and network, how could all these things fit together and form a bridge you are willing to cross over, after leaving the cube farm? And, when will this bridge be viable. For example, you are a killer graphic designer working for firm “Douche Bag, Inc. or DBI” and you decide you need to work remotely, see the world, and do creative work that DBI won’t allow you to do. You hit your college network, you call in favors/friends, Google flex opportunities, and create a bridge strong enough to carry your existing financial obligations without depleting your savings/company retirement. This means creating and/or borrowing all the resources you need to support this weighty decision. This bridge can be as simple as setting yourself up as an independent contractor4 up to an S/C corporation.
Support Pillars
These are things you don’t possess, but you need for a secure roadway. They represent all of the additional resources you need after a careful inventory of your “Haves” versus “Have Nots”. For example, most escaped cows don’t have a strong enough business or social network that can provide additional/initial income generating opportunities, housing, advice, introductions, and the list goes on. Back to the graphics designer. This could mean realizing he/she needs to set up a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC), but doesn’t have a clue how to do it. Or, doesn’t know how to market his/her services on social media. As the old X File saying goes, “The Truth is Out There.” Because I transitioned off the cube farm in 2005 and got pulled back in 2011, I had to learn how to be in business, engage in trial and error, before coming to the realization what I lacked were exposure and connections with those already in my happy place or in need of me being in my happy place with them. Here’s where the rubber hits the road. It’s not enough to escape the cube farm. It is absolutely imperative that you achieve financial viability that trumps ever going back.
#3 Sustaining
On average, most business or entrepreneurial attempts fail in 7 years or less. This can feel like a deal breaker or show stopper, but it’s truly no riskier than having a job that can be remade, moved, or removed at any time! And, the new economy has tons of individuals to corporations looking to extend flexible opportunities, mentor new business owners, and get you engaged in the business of never needing to go back to the cube farm – again. It starts with making valuable connections with people in your career field5 and those who need your skills. This means MAKING time to MEET new people, who you CAN HELP and CAN HELP YOU. This move further strengthens your bridge, while opening up your happy place for business, so you never have to return to the cube farm ever again. Many of my business opportunities come through people I already know, have done business with before, or knows someone who knows me. As I plan my great escape, I will be shoring up my bridge, one more time, and this time for good. Good luck and God speed! References: Featured photo credit: The Bartlett School of Architecture, led by Johan Berglund from 42 Architects. via floda31.com
